Islam: Ramzan Karim; Bless us again

 Ramzan Karim: Bless us again

The word Ramzan is derived from the word Ramz which means to burn your desires. It is the ninth month of Islamic Calendar being celebrated by almost 1.9 billion Muslims throughout the world. Ramzan is generally perceived as a month of blessings because on 27th of this month, the Holy Quran was revealed. In this month, all the Muslims hold fasts for the sake of Allah and avoid eating food from dawn to dusk. Last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says that when Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed and the devils are chained. No doubt, Allah showers countless blessings on his momins (staunch believers) in this month and forgives all the sins intentionally or unintentionally committed by the believers. This month itself is a blessing and full with incomparable rewards. Whosoever holds fast and fulfills all the pre-requisites laid down in the divine law, shall be highly rewarded by Allah. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Every action a son of Adam does shall be multiplied—a good action by ten times its value, up to 700 times. Allah says: With the exception of fasting, which belongs to Me, and I reward it accordingly. For, one abandons his desire and food for My sake.

There are two occasions of joy for a fasting person: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord, and the (bad) breath (of a fasting person) is better in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk. Today, the temptation of worldly desires has gone to such extent that people have forgotten the essence of this holy month. Though, people hold fasts in this month for the sake of Allah yet they do not understand the rationale behind of holding fasts. Basically, Ramzan offers a number of opportunities to believers and promises to bring revolutionary changes in their lives. It maintains status equality, religious superiority and psychological connectivity. The beauty of Ramzan is that it is properly training all the believers through divine injunctions. It is kind of a shield; preventing people from indulging in wrongdoings, character assassinations, use of obscene language and humiliation. It preaches and promotes love for mankind, peace, forgiveness, protection from hellfire, sense of starvation and welfare of the downtrodden. Since, we believers have sunk into the ocean of nothingness , we forget the teachings of our prophet. Life of Muhammad (PBUH) is a biggest example before us. Yes, we cannot reach at such degree of humanity and spiritual superiority as attained by Rasollallah but at least we can follow his footsteps. We can also change our behavior and style of leading life by adopting the principles suggested by our Prophet. The world we have been living in, is ephemeral and subjected to end. We need to focus on the eternal world which will start from life-hereafter. And, holy months like Ramzan, gives as an enormous opportunity to walk on the path of Allah. However, it must be kept in mind that the worldly pleasures we wish is nothing before the pleasures as promised by Allah. But, the most unfortunate thing is that people give due importance to televised programs-which means to earn money- rather than focusing on divine law. Yes, televised programs help us in understanding many religious things but the spirit required to comprehend Islam appears nowhere. It is also true that most of the Muslims recite holy Quran in this month but very small ratio of them understand the glorious importance of the holy book. It is the reason we all Muslims are in troubles today. Understanding Quran means understanding Allah and the actual message his prophets. In the Surah Yaseen Allah says – Yaseen Wal Quran-ul Hakeem which means the Quran is the most wise book. And, prior to understanding Islam, it is necessary to understand Quran. Hence, it is time to attain company of Allah rather than commercializing the teachings of Allah. We need to individually realize that why Allah made us Muslims and What is the real message of Quran. Remember, in the history, most of the nations reached at zenith by acquiring spiritual attainments not by the worldly pleasures.

The Frontier Post: A welcome move

A Welcome Move

The Frontier Post 

19-06-2013

Federal government has finally realized the immense importance of augmenting salaries of government servants. 
Though, it held the view that there would be 40 billion burden on national exchequer yet it withdrew its previous decision of not increasing the salaries. In the post-budget protest all Pakistan clerical association had protested against the move. 
Because, most of the Public sector organizations are run by middle class people. And, the sky-rocketing prices of commodities and double-digit inflation last grave repercussions on their already pathetic lives. yes, I agree with Finance Minister that Pakistan is not in stable condition and cannot bear further burdens on its already weakened economy. 
But, it should not be overruled that federal government spends nothing as compared to border security. 
It is therefore, necessary to point out that human security should be given the same degree of attention that has been given to border security. If this move had been taken earlier, PML-N would have got more sympathy of Pakistani people. Anyhow, I welcome the delayed taken move by federal government to benefit its servants.

Waqar Abro
Karachi

Letter To The Editor: Anti-Youth Budget

Anti-Youth Budget
The Frontier Post
14/06/2013

Federal finance minister Ishaq Dar has unfolded budget in the National Assembly for the fiscal year 2013-14. In his parliamentary speech he said that PML-N is working hard to take the nation out of economic and energy crisis. 
No doubt, the budgetary speech was appealing and nation friendly to some extent but it is also bitter reality that not a single buck has been reserved to provide governmental jobs to millions of educated Pakistanis. 
Providing ten thousands rupees under the given age criteria is neither youth familiar nor in the interest of millions of post-graduate degree holders. It is needless to mention that oppressed youth speedily reacted on social media after the official announcement of budget. People held the opinion on social media that we have been made beggar again. 
One person wrote on his facebook wall that “In Europe Master degree holders are provided jobs while in Pakistan they are offered ten thousand rupees provided that they are less than 25 years old. It has been learnt after evaluating a number of TV discussions that unless new jobs are not created, the said amount for youth will never bring revolutionary changes. Contrary to this, billions of rupees have been allocated for providing laptops to registered university students. 
Why private degree holders have always been neglected. Those who do not afford to get themselves registered in universities for regular studies are always dealt with iron hand. Who is responsible of their fate , state , parents or society?

Waqar Abro
Karachi

Letter To The Editor: Nawaz the silver lining in clouds

Nawaz The Silver Lining in Clouds

The Frontier Post

04/06/2013

Finally the historic transition period has come to end and all the elected members of National and Provincial Assemblies have been sworn in.
Though, in the last five years democracy did nothing for people, except oppression and devastation yet it has started smoothly sailing in our country. It would not be exaggeration to state that democrats have started realizing the core concept of deliverance.
They know that governance is the only option through which democracy can be strengthened. And recent election results of all units of the federation speak volume in this regard. Since, large share of population has turned out to be politically mature it would not be easy for newly elected government to throw dust in the eyes of the people. Honestly speaking, people are fed up from the existing status quo mindset and desperately demanding change in our political system.
Actually, our youth comprises one third of the whole population and almost sixty percent of youth is either unemployed or victim of slaughter of merit. Merit is the only way through which wounds of educated people can be healed and Nawaz Sharif has to realize that either he wants policy of consensus based upon distribution of resources or a policy of making Pakistan the fastest growing country in the region.
Technically speaking, Nawaz Sharif does not need support of any political party because his seats have already secured the required quota to name its prime minister yet he intends to carry all political parties in government boat. Yes, there is no harm to form coalition government but to fulfill the dreams Nawaz Sharif showed to youth can only be fulfilled by showing zero tolerance to corruption.
And presently, he is the only ray of hope for the entire nation. Being a youth, I wish him best of luck and conveying a message that “Dear Prime Minister” never compromise on merit and corruption after taking the oath of premiership because you are the “Sliver Lining Cloud”.
 
Waqar Abro
Karachi

Letter To The Editor : Political Fine-Tuning

Political Fine-Tuning 

The Frontier Post

23-05-13

During the season of election campaign, it was appearing from the behaviour of our politicians that they had turned out to be angels of Pakistan. To gain a margin of votes, they started unveiling their real faces through different political paid contents. They went on to the extent that they started using indecent language against each other in different media channels. Since the season of election is over, they have started chanting the same notion of consensus policy which had started circulating after the 2008 elections. In the name of consensus policy, most of the resources and jobs are distributed among coalition partners. Yes, there is no harm to form a coalition based government but what is detrimental, is, properly addressing the nation's agenda. Forgetting nation just for the sake of smooth sailing of government is quite old and revealed tactic. History clearly speaks of the performance delivered by our democratic government. It is time to deliver not to share the resources. People of Pakistan are intellectually liberated and emerging PTI support speaks volume in this regard. Everyone is tired of old faces now. Even though, a deaf and dumb person said to me through actions that he wanted change in politics because soaring poverty and rocketing prices of local commodities have marred the life of an ordinary citizen. Hence, the slogan chanted by Nawaz Sharif that all parties would be welcome if they work with him on national agenda, is a positive omen. I welcome this political fine-tuning that all stake holders should sit together to resolve the country's myriad of problems.
Waqar Abro
Karachi

 

Letter To The Editor : Ambiguous future of Pakistan

Ambiguous future of Pakistan
The Frontier Post
21-05-2013

After critically analyzing manifestos of different political parties, it can be generally perceived that whosoever comes into power after elections, will not be able to make Naya( New) Pakistan.
All the parties contesting general elections, sing the songs of progress and prosperity without understanding and identifying the ground realities. Pakistan is endowed with a myriad of problems. It demands some stern measures for addressing the biggest menaces like corruption and energy crisis. Prior to completion of already vowed promises, one party has gone to such extent that it will launch bullet train within short possible time.
The thing worries me the most is that why do not we strengthen our basic foundation? Why our leaders always try to experiment new things after coming into power? Is it justified that there is no jobs, no meals and no shelter for poor but still our leaders are spend thrift on such projects which do not make any sense in reference of a new Pakistan?. Building roads and launching bullet trains will never bring any change in our country. It is the education which is the first brick of a well groomed society. Actually, education brings revolutionary and evolutionary changes in human nature. If one reflects what he reads, I bet he will be a perfect and complete human. But, the most unfortunate thing is that such kind of practice is hardly witnessed in our country. Hence, prior to bringing reforms in the country the ambitious political parties must bring reforms within their political structure and try to adopt western welfare oriented norms rather than adhering to same classical style of politics.

Waqar Abro
Karachi

Letter To The Editor: Don’t steal words

Don’t steal words
Pakistan Observer
10-05-2013

This is reply to the letter published on 29th of April 2013 in this newspaper that the writer Faiza Azam plagiarized my content and sent it to the editor for publication with a new title. As everyone knows, editors do not have enough time to verify the content yet being an educated person it was sacred duty of Faiza Azam to avoid copying my word to word passages for the sake of publication. It goes without saying that the same content had been published with the title ‘Cast your vote campaign” dated 23rd of April in this newspaper.

I request to all educated people who used to plagiarize material from internet and from other sources that they should avoid themselves from such creepy and dishonest practices. Under the copy rights law plagiarizers can be held accountable but there is nothing good to drag someone to courts for her slight mistakes. It is therefore, the writer Faiza Azam is humbly requested to write a letter seeking open apology from the genuine author and from this prestigious newspaper editor for dodging them for nothing.

—Karachi
WAQAR ABRO

Letter To The Editor: Suggestions For EC

Suggestions For EC
Pakistan Observer
06-05-2013

There is hue and cry through out the country that the upcoming general elections are supposed to be turning point of Pakistan history. It is true that every Pakistani demands for change now. But can the change the educated society expects really come if our people from far flung areas would not cast their vote due to some reasons? For voting awareness some constructive and achievable measures should be later by Election commission for increasing voter ratio in the coming elections.

There should be election commission social media campaign for increasing the of a votes. Election commission should direct care-taker government to regularly publish its advertisements in various newspapers. All media men aiming to bring change in the country should be directed to play a role in their own capacity.

Artists and singers of various local languages can also spread the message of voting rights through their melodies at mass level. There should be coordination between EC and NGO’s working on election awareness projects for increasing the voter ratio.

Voting know-how in rural areas is worse than No-Go areas. However Election commission should pay more attention to rural areas than urban areas. Khatibs in their respective areas can also spread the importance of a vote through Friday Sermons. There should also be a room for prisoners and disable people to cast their vote by using modern means of communication. There are millions of people in Pakistan who do not live in their respective constituency. However, they should also be given a chance to vote for their registered voting constituency from any part of the country.
WAQAR ABRO
—Karachi

Letter To The Editor: Suggestions for Election Commission

Suggestions for Election Commission
The Frontier Post
02-05-2013

There is hue and cry through out the country that the upcoming general elections are supposed to be turning point of Pakistan history. It is truth that every Pakistani demands for change now. But, the change the educated society expects can really come if our people from far flung areas would not cast their vote due to some reasons? For voting awareness i lay down some constructive and achievable measures before Election commission for increasing voter ratio in the coming elections.
There should be election commission social media campaign for increasing the importance of a vote Election commission should direct care-taker government to regularly publish its advertisements in various newspapers.
All media men aiming to bring change in the country should be directed to play a role in their own capacity.
Artists and singers of various local languages can also spread the message of voting rights through their melodies at mass level.
There should be coordination between EC and Ngo's working on election awareness projects for increasing the voter ratio.
Voting know-how in rural areas is worst than No-Go areas. However Election commission should pay more attention to rural areas than urban areas.
Mullahs in their respective areas can also spread the importance of a vote through Friday Sermons.
There should also be a room for prisoners and disable people to cast their vote by using modern means of communication.
There are millions of people in Pakistan who do not live in their respective constituency. However, they should also be given a chance to vote for their registered voting constituency from any part of the country.
This country has given has us many things. However, we must individually play our role to augment the voter ratio in upcoming general elections. T.V Artists, sports men and women, writers, columnists, media men, bloggers, civil servants, men and women in uniform, and others should also play their role.

Waqar Abro